Neptune Energy awards rig contract
LONDON -- Neptune Energy Norge AS has awarded a rig contract for six wells to CIMC Offshore AS. The contract concerns hire of the Beacon Atlantic semi-submersible drilling unit, which will be managed by Odfjell Drilling AS.
Designed for harsh environments, Beacon Atlantic will be suitable for drilling three development wells on the Duva field (formerly Cara) starting at the end of 2019. In addition, it may drill another three development wells in the northernmost part of the Gjøa field, the P1 segment. Neptune Energy Norge has options to use the rig for additional development or exploration wells.
Odin Estensen, managing director of Neptune Energy in Norway said, “With the contracting of this modern rig, we are on track to develop the Duva and Gjøa P1 fields, both of which are key growth assets in our Norwegian North Sea portfolio. First oil for Duva is expected by late 2020 and early 2021 for Gjøa P1.”
Beacon Atlantic is a new-built drilling rig designed to operate on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The rig is right-sized for a combination of development drilling and exploration drilling.
Erik Oppedal, projects & engineering manager at Neptune Energy in Norway said, “Neptune Energy has high expectations for the Beacon Atlantic. The rig has 1½ derrick efficiency, allowing parallel operations and thus ensuring an efficient drilling program. We already have competent personnel present at the yard for follow-up and implementation jointly with Odfjell Drilling. Sail-away is scheduled in the summer of 2019 and the rig is expected to arrive at the first drilling location in the fourth quarter of 2019.”
Beacon Atlantic is currently at CIMC Raffles yard in Yantai, China completing final commissioning and sea trials
